A27050:232
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiors, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiours, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
47. We doubt not but in a Church that hath many Pastors, those that are young and weak should much submit to the elder and more able, and be as far ruled by them, as the difference of age, experience and abilities, without a difference of Office, doth require.
48. And we doubt not, but where Temples and Church-maintenance are at the dispose of Patrons, People or Magistrates, they may give them to some one Pastor as the present possessor, so that no other shall have part but by his concession. And this difference there is between the Parson and his Curates in our Parishes, and an accidental superiority and inferiority thereby, without a difference of Office.
49. If Magistrates, or Councils, or Custom, should in each particular Church that hath many Pastors, give one a Governing, that is a negative voice among the rest, in the management of the affairs of that Church, so that the rest should not go against him or without him, as Archbishops now are over Bishops, and Archpresbyters were formerly over Presbyters, and Archdeacons over Deacons, and Presidents over Colleges, and Courts of Justice, without claiming a distinct Office; though the sad experience of Mens inclination to Church-tyranny, make us doubtful whether we should wish for such an inequality, yet would we not unpeaceably disturb or quarrel with such an Order, when it is settled: Our Parish Order aforesaid being indeed but such.
49. If Magistrates, or Councils, or Custome, should in each particular Church that hath many Pastors, give one a Governing, that is a negative voice among the rest, in the management of the affairs of that Church, so that the rest should not go against him or without him, as Archbishops now are over Bishops, and Archpresbyters were formerly over Presbyters, and Archdeacons over Deacons, and Presidents over Colleges, and Courts of Justice, without claiming a distinct Office; though the sad experience of Mens inclination to Church-tyranny, make us doubtful whether we should wish for such an inequality, yet would we not unpeaceably disturb or quarrel with such an Order, when it is settled: Our Parish Order aforesaid being indeed but such.